Footnotes to Long Island History
Early Preacher Busy Man
by
Thomas R. Bayles
The
first settlement in Brookhaven town was
made at Setauket in 1655, and it was not until about 1730 that a few hardy
pioneers began to make their homes through the middle of the island. A trail
that is now Middle Country road was broken through shortly after 1700, and it was
adjoining this that the first settlers located and built their homes, cleared land for farming and began the
settlement of Middle Island. Before this, the Indians were the only inhabitants
of this vast wilderness and may have had their settlements located around
Artist Lake as numerous arrow heads have been found there
The
original house adjoining Pfeiffer's store in Middle Island was occupied in 1739
by one of the Brewster family as was the old Hutchinson homestead in 1750,
which stood at the foot of the hill where Horton's cement block factory is now
located. These men were grandsons of the Rev. Nathaniel Brewster, the first
minister of the old Town church at Setauket in 1665.
As the
little settlement grew, the need for a church became an important matter for
these people and in 1766 a piece of ground was purchased where the present
church is located. Here was erected the first 'meeting house,' and a
Presbyterian
church was organized in charge of the Rev. David Rose who was pastor of the
South Haven church, which had been organized a few years previously. "Priest Rose"
as he was called, served both churches until his death in 1799 and combined the
three most prized functions of that day, preacher, doctor and teacher. He must
have been a busy man as he rode over his
immense parishes on horseback with his saddle bags full of medicine, books and a
bible.
The
first church built here in 1766 was a plain boxlike structure about 26
feet square. Logs from nearby forests were hauled to the saw mill at Yaphank to be
sawed into boards and timber and labor was furnished by those earnest men who
wanted a church built. Heating facilities were not provided and the women
brought "foot stoves" to warm their feet.
This is
the story of a resolute group of men and women who for nearly two centuries have
kept alive a church because they loved and needed it in spite of at times almost
insurmountable odds. They were not rich people, for farmers rarely became
wealthy on Long Island in Colonial times. The Revolutionary war impoverished
them as a depression could not, and for seven long years their farms were
uncared for or furnished provender for the British soldiers. Yet when peace was
declared and their home repaired and occupied their first desire was to re-open
their church and resume services.
Remarkable
too, was the influence of this church and the one at South Haven which sent into
the political world of that colonial day distinguished men who have been
recognized and remembered as leaders in the early life of our nation. More
important was the joy and hope and courage which the churches inspired through
years in these communities.
During
the Revolution the Rev. Mr. Rose enlisted in the army and after the British
took possession of Long Island, fled to Connecticut with his family to escape
them. What happened to the church is a mystery. Whether it was used by the
British soldiers during their occupation as were the churches at Setauket and
South Haven is unknown. After the war, Priest Rose returned and services were
resumed in his churches.
Whatever
records existed of the activities of the Middle Island church up to 1800 have
been forever lost, and the first record we have is that of June 1, 1800, which reads
as follows: "About this time, Appollus Wetmore was appointed clerk to keep
record for the church." this further states, "In the spring and
summer of 1800, God was pleased in a most wonderful manner to pour out his
spirit on the people in this place. Prayer meetings were kept up two to five
nights a week, and God was pleased to follow the word preached with the power
to the salvation of many." There were only 19 members of the church in
January of 1800 and 22 more were added in June of that year.
Middle
Island has the distinction of having the oldest post office in Brookhaven town
and Appollus Wetmore was the first postmaster in 1796. This locality was first
known as Middletown then the name of the post office was changed to Brookhaven
and in 1821 was again changed to its present name Middle Island.
The
church building erected in 1766 served the community until 1837 when the
present church was built on the same site but just to the rear of the old one.